How to Fix Volkswagen Golf GTE Startup Issue
Modern vehicles are in a class of their own with the high level of quality standards they follow and the levels of technology that manufacturers use in them. German marques, like VW, are known for their dependability; however even these brands sometimes encounter issues – it is a common side-effect of mass production. The more cars you produce, the more chances there are for a fault to materialise.
Let’s face it, cars are machines with thousands of components, so we perhaps shouldn’t be surprised when things go wrong.
So, when a breakdown does occur, it may not be surprising but it is, nonetheless, frustrating and inconvenient.
Unfortunately, one of our clients was on the receiving end of this.
Mr. S called us about his 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTE that had startup issues. No matter what he did, the car wouldn’t start. But even more concerning was the fact that it wouldn’t even turn over.
Why was a vehicle, that is hardly four years old, acting so strange? Could it be an innate fault? Perhaps the manufacturer overlooked a major flaw?
We had these questions in our minds when Mr. S towed his vehicle into the Fergies garage.
Our highly capable Volkswagen technician Jason took over the project and began to work his magic.
Faults Found
Jason’s first job was to make sure the Golf GTE was safe to work with and that no live wires were going to surprise him. After all, the Golf GTE is a hybrid vehicle, and working with such cars is a safety hazard. Interestingly, when Jason began his diagnosis, it was the vehicle’s electrical system that was faulty and causing the ignition issue.
It turned out that the 12V battery that powers the electrical system was completely flat. The car was also experiencing high voltage issues and as a result of this, the hybrid vehicle was having trouble starting up.
The next step was to determine the reason behind having no turnover.
Jason quickly found an answer to that, thanks to his training working with EVs and his vast experience.
The VW Golf GTE is a unique car, in that it has a hybrid system that doesn’t require a starter motor to ignite the engine. When the hybrid battery is near its depletion point, it uses power from its storage to start the engine. Therefore, if the electric system is malfunctioning the car will be unresponsive.
Our VW specialist collected all this information and used his skills as a certified EV technician to solve the Golf GTE’s electrical problem. He had to use the correct safety equipment and follow the recommended protocols to work on the GTE.
The only way to reach the right conclusion was by using the 15-diagnostic procedure adopted by Fergies. Our technicians, who are Volkswagen specialists, use this detailed process so that they can solve complex problems efficiently. It also allows them to remove the covers from any hidden faults. So, nothing misses their keen eyes.
Diagnostic Procedure
The comprehensive 15-step diagnostic procedure that Jason used in his work on the 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTE allowed him to be efficient and quick. His first instinct was to trace the issue back to its root. Once you reach there, the solution is mostly around the corner. Fortunately, that was exactly what Jason experienced.
Our Volkswagen technician used the ODIS diagnostic tool on the VW and scanned for fault codes. It is the most efficient place to start and usually helps us to narrow down the systems causing the issue. In this case, the error codes signalling voltage issues in the car popped up, along with no communication codes.
The problem was right in front of Jason and he knew the route he would take to reach the solution. So, he opened up erWin – the Volkswagen manufacturer technical information manual – and used the wiring diagrams to find the root cause of the issue.
He used the wiring diagram to trace the entire length of the electrical wiring inside the Golf. Not only that, but Jason checked the primary 12V battery as well. Sure enough, the battery was flat and unresponsive.
Perhaps it wasn’t charging properly? Our technician recharged the 12v battery to remove that possibility from the equation.
It should be noted that hybrid car batteries are extremely hazardous. If high voltage problems plague the system, the battery can blow up or catch fire. Therefore, Jason had to use all his training to tackle the challenge.
The Fix
After our Volkswagen specialist tested and retested everything, he made sure all the systems were safe to start working on the solution.
Jason found the missing link between the 12V battery and the hybrid battery module. It was a broken wire that was causing all sorts of problems for the vehicle. The ignition fault and the high voltage error codes were all a result of a simple compromised connection wire.
Our Volkswagen specialist technician repaired the broken wire and linked up the hybrid battery module. Once everything was aligned and in place, the whole car was retested. Jason performed another code scan and luckily nothing turned up.
Afterward, he cleared the codes, turned the key in the ignition and the Golf GTE started immediately.
Mr. S thanked the technician for his unwavering commitment and skill that resulted in such a quick turnaround.
Our Commitment & Your Satisfaction
Jason did not waste a minute when Mr. S drove into Fergies. He took the task head-on and tackled it with the highest level of professionalism. Jason used the 15-diagnostic procedure, and his expertise and skill to solve the issue in a few hours.
The 2018 VW Golf GTE had a broken wire that can result in a dangerous situation for the technician, the owner, and the car. One wrong move and an electric shock could have harmed someone. Thankfully, Jason’s experience working with EVs saved the day, and no one was put in harm’s way.
Mr. S left our garage a happy man, which is a testament to the service we provide at Fergies. We offer top-of-the-line service to our clients and at a competitive price too. You get value for your money when you put your trust in Fergies.
If that is something you feel is missing from your life, do not hesitate to call Fergies and consult with our experts about your car’s issues. You can call us at 01635 903173 for all your hybrid VW car troubles.
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